MACtion returns to the forefront of midweek college football action in Week 11, and on Wednesday night, the Ohio Bobcats head out on the road to take on the Kent State Golden Flashes in a clash between teams at the opposite end of the conference.
Who wins? Our Ohio vs. Kent State prediction covers all the key aspects, from the latest betting odds to each team’s prospects for the rest of the 2024 college football season.
Ohio vs. Kent State Betting Preview
All Ohio vs. Kent State odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. The CFN Spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Ohio -12.5 - Spread
Ohio -18.5 - Moneyline
Ohio -1100, Kent State +700 - Over/Under
52 points - Game time
7 p.m. ET - Location
Dix Stadium | Kent, OH - Predicted Weather at Kick
46 degrees, clear, 6 mph wins - How to Watch
ESPNU
Ohio and Kent State have met annually since 1949, with the Bobcats holding a significant 46-27-2 advantage over the Golden Flashes ahead of their 76th matchup. While Kent State won the last time the two teams met in Dix Stadium (2022), the Bobcats have had the upper hand recently. They’re the in-form team and, understandably, are considered a favorite by DraftKings.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
Ohio is 5-0 when favored this season, and there’s no reason to expect that to change when they face a team yet to taste victory. While the Bobcats are 4-4 against the spread, Kent State has only covered twice this year and has an average margin of defeat of 29.6 points. They’ve also failed to cover the spread by an average of 9.1 points. Expect a big Bobcats win in Week 11.
Ohio’s Winning Probability
According to the CFN FPM, Ohio has an 82.1% chance of beating Kent State on Wednesday night. Our metric has been in lockstep with the Bobcats throughout the season, projecting their losses to the Syracuse Orange, Kentucky Wildcats, and Miami (OH) RedHawks.
Here are the remaining win probabilities for Ohio in the 2024 season:
- at Kent State: 82.1%
- vs. Eastern Michigan: 65.7%
- at Toledo: 49.4%
- vs. Ball State: 71.6%
If those win probabilities were to hold true, the Bobcats would end the year with an 8-4 record with two defeats in the MAC. With how the conference is playing out so far in 2024, that could be good enough to secure a spot in the championship game, but there are no guarantees — especially if they lose a tightly projected game with the Toledo Rockets.
Kent State’s Winning Probability
Conversely, CFN FPM gives Kent State a 17.9% chance of beating Ohio on Wednesday night. Our metric has only favored the Golden Flashes once this season, and they lost that game to FCS outfit St. Francis. It’s worth noting that the CFN FPM spread line was significantly shorter than the oddsmakers’ line for that game.
Here are the remaining win probabilities for Kent State in the 2024 season:
- vs. Ohio: 17.9%
- at Miami (OH): 8.9%
- vs. Akron: 34.3%
- at Buffalo: 17%
If those win probabilities were to hold true, the Golden Flashes would finish the season with a 0-12 record. The program hasn’t had a winless season since 1998 and hasn’t gone 0-8 in MAC play since 2005. After going 1-11 last fall, the pressure is on for head coach Kenni Burns.
Prediction for Ohio vs. Kent State
The return of MACtion is a cause for celebration across the country, but this game isn’t likely to be the greatest showcase of the tight nature of play in the conference this season. While midweek mayhem comes as standard in the MAC, Ohio is a consistent frontrunner, while Kent State is simply battling to put a win on the board in a season that is already lost.
Ohio has one eye on a place in the MAC Championship Game, but can the Golden Flashes thwart those chances while rescuing some respectability and credibility? The Bobcats clearly have the edge, but are there some pivotal battles where Kent State can cause a surprise on Wednesday night?
Ohio’s in-conference campaign got off to a somewhat sluggish start with a narrow win over the Central Michigan Chippewas and defeat to Miami. However, they throttled the Buffalo Bills in Week 9, with the offense putting together the best performance of an otherwise middling season.
After years of relying on the passing prowess of Kurtis Rourke under center, the Bobcats thrive on the ground game. Quarterback Parker Navarro is a dangerous dual-threat with 507 rushing yards and four scores this season. They might be without leading rusher Anthony Tyus III (610 yards, six total scores), but Rickey Hunt can fill the gap in the rushing offense.
Even though Coleman Owen is a dangerous outlet in the passing game, expect the Bobcats to throttle the Golden Flashes on the ground. The Kent State defense has allowed 26 rushing scores this year while allowing 5.93 yards per carry to opposition rushers — the worst in the MAC. Burns’ team has also given up the most points per game (46.6) in the country.
Kent State has one of the top receivers in the conference in Chrishon McCray. When Tommy Ulatowski connects, he actually leads the nation in yards per completion. The problem is he’s only completed 42.6% of his attempts this year. With little semblance of a ground game either, the Golden Flashes don’t have any answers for the Bobcats on either side of the ball.
Prediction: Ohio 35, Kent State 13
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